South Korean exchange Bithumb identified about 291.6 billion Korean won (roughly $201.8 million) in idle customer crypto spread across around 2.6 million accounts, according to Finance Feeds. The review flagged balances untouched for up to 4,380 days, including a single dormant account worth approximately $2.84 million. Some holdings logged gains exceeding 61,000%.

On Thursday, CryptoQuant’s head of research Julio Moreno said Bitcoin may have entered a bear market in early November after multiple technical and on-chain signals flipped negative. He highlighted a drop below the one-year moving average as the key trigger and projected a potential bottom between $56,000 and $60,000. As of Friday, BTC traded near $88,500.

Abra CEO Bill Barhydt expects Bitcoin to gain in 2026 as the Federal Reserve's looser monetary stance injects additional liquidity and boosts risk appetite. He highlights renewed bond purchases, the prospect of lower interest rates, and improving regulation and institutional demand as key supports, while other analysts foresee more moderate, lower-volatility returns. Some market observers also see Bitcoin in a corrective and accumulation phase after a sharp pullback from its late-2025 peak, with elevated rates limiting the chance of an early-2026 breakout.

Global family offices increased crypto allocations in 2025, with many making first-time entries. A BNY Mellon study in October reported 74% of ultra-high-net-worth family offices are investing in or exploring digital assets, while moves like VMS's $10 million backing of Re7 and Arthur Hayes's office targeting $250 million highlight activity. Financial News noted volatility is tempering 2026 expectations.

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has called on citizens to install the decentralized Bitchat messaging app ahead of the presidential election set for January 15, 2026. He cited past nationwide internet and social media shutdowns that rights groups say hit opposition organizing hardest, and warned that authorities could again restrict access. Bitchat's Bluetooth-based mesh network lets users exchange encrypted messages without traditional internet infrastructure, which he argues could help supporters stay connected if online services are blocked.

In a December 29, 2025 post on X, Coinbase researcher David Duong said onchain perpetual futures trading surpassed $1 trillion in monthly volume as leverage demand grew amid a muted altcoin season. Decentralized venues such as Aster and Hyperliquid gained share, and Duong highlighted equity perpetuals as a likely next growth segment for onchain derivatives.

South Korea’s push for a comprehensive crypto law has been postponed to 2026 as regulators clash over who may issue stablecoins. According to Yonhap, the FSC’s draft would require 100% reserves held with licensed custodians, while the Bank of Korea wants bank-controlled consortia with at least 51% ownership.

By the end of 2026, Haseeb Qureshi of Dragonfly expects at least one major Big Tech company to launch or acquire a crypto wallet and for banks and fintechs to deploy more modular, permissioned blockchains. He also forecasts Bitcoin trading above $150,000 with falling market dominance, continued strength for Ethereum and Solana, and a roughly 60% expansion of the $312 billion stablecoin market as Tether's share slips.

Nasdaq-listed crypto firm ALT5 Sigma, backed by Trump-linked World Liberty Financial, has come under pressure after appointing Victor Mokuolu CPA PLLC as its new auditor while the firm's license is inactive. State filings cited in the FT indicate the auditor's license expired in August and had not been renewed by late December, adding to ALT5 Sigma's missed Q3 filing deadline, past regulatory penalties for the auditor, a more than 77% stock decline in 2025, and rising Nasdaq delisting concerns. Governance questions intensified following a board resignation, executive removals and Eric Trump taking only an observer role instead of joining the board.